Ron Hand Ron Hand's work reflects those intangible qualities that he feels are most important ­ character, beauty and quietude. His elegant forms are largely influenced by traditional Japanese and Chinese pottery. While his glazes are based on Asian formulas, his clay is dug from swampy areas near where he lives. Hand received his MS in ceramics from the University of Tennessee. His work was included in the exhibition American Shino that traveled to museums in New York and Massachusetts in 2001 and 2002 respectively.